The Marie Curie Actions (MCAs) have been created in order to enhance the quality of European Research and also to respond to a potential shortage of researchers in Europe to meet Research and Innovation (R&I) challenges. Moreover, they intend to boost the attractiveness of Europe as a place to undertake research and address the fragmentation of national and regional instruments in the European Research Area (ERA). As such, they encourage researchers to acquire the key skills and competences that will help them build a career in both the public and private sectors. By fostering mobility not only across countries and disciplines but also across sectors – academia and industry – MCAs are a true illustration of the knowledge triangle (innovation, research and education).
In order to better exploit the links between education, research and innovation, the unit in charge of the policy development of the Marie Curie Actions was transferred on 1 March 2010 from the then Directorate-General of Research (RTD) to the Directorate-General of Education and Culture (EAC). The rationale behind this was to reinforce bridges between the European Areas of Higher Education and Research.
As such, one of the key features of the MCAs is researchers’ transnational mobility. DG EAC has a long track record of supporting mobility through various programmes and initiatives (eg Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, Leonardo). Bringing Erasmus Mundus and the MCAs within the same DG allows these synergies to be better exploited. In addition to transnational mobility, the MCAs seek to dismantle the real and perceived barriers between the academic and commercial research sectors. Transferring the MCAs under the umbrella of EAC has thus the potential to increase the impact of both the EAC traditional mobility instruments and the MCAs, reducing possible overlapping and harmonising the practical implementation. Furthermore, it improves university participation in the ERA.
DG RTD (now called Research and Innovation) continues, however, to ensure participation of universities in the ERA, in particular through policy consultation on doctoral programmes. Last but not least, DG RTD and EAC are now coordinating their policies, for instance on building the next Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation.
Whats coming next in 2012?
In addition to the existing Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN), dedicated to the international research training of early-stage researchers, the European Commission is going to launch two new implementation modes under the same action, the European Industrial Doctorates and the Innovation Doctoral Programmes*.
European Innovative Doctorates (EID)*
A European Industrial Doctorate is a 3 year project giving young researchers the opportunity to receive international research training in both a university/research institute and a company, which are established in two different Member States or associated countries. Associated partners from both the public and private sector can also be attached.
Such a scheme will promote cooperation between universities and businesses and will increase mobility between the two sectors. It will improve the output from universities and research institutes and will also make research affordable to companies, including SMEs. Early-stage researchers will be able to gain company experience while still completing their studies; thereby opening future career perspectives upon completion of their PhD.
EUR20 million will be dedicated to this new pilot initiative to be launched in July 2011 with a call deadline in January 2012. This first call will allow about 100 researchers to benefit from this excellent training. Businesses and universities/research institutions from two different Member States or associated countries are encouraged to jointly apply to get financial support for first class PhD training. The EID does not represent a new type of doctoral degree, but is designed to support long-term, industry-oriented basic research that has the same level of scientific merit as the general doctoral degree education.
Innovative Doctoral Programmes (IDP)*
The objective of this new initiative is to enhance the quality of doctoral training in Europe. Any university or research institution established in a Member State or associated country and offering an innovative doctoral programme is encouraged to apply. Associated partners from both the public and private sector and eventually from third countries can also be attached. The best programmes ensuring an international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral training of doctoral candidates and offering them the highest potential for their future career will be funded.
In the three different implementation modes dedicated to the training of early-stage researchers – ITN, EID and IDP – the training offered should not only focus on research knowledge but also be completed with modules on transferable skills such as entrepreneuship, business management, financing of research projects, communication etc. Both the quality and quantity of supervision of the early-stage researchers are also important evaluation criteria.
*Under the condition that the 2012 People Work Programme is adopted in July 2011 without modification.
